Club 80-90 Forums

I have got a new 1.6 TD which starts from cold great glow plugs then turn key and its started but when it is warm i dont get any glow plug light and it has to turn over a few times to start am i doing anything wrong or is that just the way it is. Thanks Simon.

once the engine is warm the glowplug light wont come on.

I get the same, with my very old 1.6. Is there a particular starting technique? I currently give it zero throttle, but drop the clutch to give the starter less to turn. I think I invented the second thing myself, incidentally, is it based on any kind of reality?

Once warmed up, when I come to restart mine and the glowplug warning light doesn`t come on (beacause the sensor tells it not to as the engine is warm enough) then it takes a few seconds cranking over to start it. It start instantly from cold with the glowplugs.

I had a Citroen BX turbo-diesel a few years back and later a ZX TD, and I had to give them both the glowplugs every time to start, hot or cold. I was told this is normal. The Citroens don`t have the sensor to tell the plugs not to come on when the motor is warm.

Did hear it said it is because they are indirect injection, not sure why this would matter.

Set the tappets.

Simon Baxter wrote:Set the tappets.

I did that on a Morris Minor once, is it similarly straightforward on my diesel?

The engine in mine is new 400 miles new so i am hopeing the tappets dont need doing the old worn engine was about the same starting so i was hopeing it is just the way the 1.6 td engines are. Thanks for the advice.

how many times is a few.....

it has to turn over a few times to start

Simon Baxter wrote:Set the tappets.

Hydro tappets or non i thought you can only set non.

I think I invented the second thing myself, incidentally, is it based on any kind of reality?

Yes it is based on reality, the starter only has to turn the engine not the gearbox as well, although not really sure how much extra load that puts on the starter, but better to start with clutch down rather than not.

Sam.

Tappets are set with shims on the TD motor. Job that no-one does `coz it`s a pain! Check your clearances as per usual, if they are out of limits then its a shimming job, which needs either a special tool to hold down the buckets while you get the shims out with a magnetic screwdriver, or you take the cam out and do the lot in one go.

You will probably have to buy some new shims, you won`t know what the thicknesses are until you get the old ones out and check the sizes. You may be lucky and be able to swap some round to get your clearances right on some valves, but will probably end up having to order some new shims of the correct thickness to finish the job, which means either bus off the road while they come from VW, or you have to put the cam back in and build it all up, then when the new shims arrive strip it all down again and fit the new shims

Or take it to a mechanic who has the kit to to it and knows what he`s doing, and maybe has a box of shims ready to sort you out quick Bloke in Huddersfield seems popular if you are close enough for a day-trip

Turning over a few times on my engine is abuot 5 seconds may be a bit more. It just seems a bit strange that it starts so well from cold and if it is hot (started within a few minutes of stoping). But if its left half hour then it takes longer to start.